Temporary Residence Card Service for Foreigners in Vietnam

Lotus Air’s temporary residence card service supports individuals, foreign experts, investors, foreign employees, and sponsoring enterprises in preparing documents, checking eligibility, and completing the temporary residence card application process in Vietnam in accordance with applicable regulations.

A temporary residence card allows foreigners to stay in Vietnam more stably during its validity period, reducing the need for repeated visa extensions and making long-term plans for work, investment, study, family visit, or residence more convenient. For companies employing foreign personnel, the temporary residence card is also an important part of residence record management, labor compliance, and international mobility planning.

What Is a Temporary Residence Card?

A temporary residence card is a document issued by the immigration authority or a competent authority to foreigners who are permitted to reside in Vietnam for a specific period. During its validity, the temporary residence card has the same value as a visa, allowing the foreigner to enter and exit Vietnam under the card’s conditions without applying for a new visa for each entry.

Temporary residence cards are commonly suitable for foreigners who need to stay in Vietnam for a medium or long term, such as experts, foreign employees, investors, family members of foreigners, family members of Vietnamese citizens, trainees, international students, or individuals working with agencies, organizations, or enterprises in Vietnam.

The application should be prepared based on the actual residence purpose, current visa type, supporting documents, and sponsoring party. If the application category is incorrectly identified or supporting documents are insufficient, the applicant may need additional time to supplement, amend, or restart the procedure.

Who Should Apply for a Temporary Residence Card in Vietnam?

Foreigners should consider applying for a temporary residence card if they plan to stay in Vietnam for a relatively long period and have valid documents proving their residence purpose.

Common cases include:

• Foreign employees with a work permit or a work permit exemption certificate.
• Experts, managers, executive directors, or technical workers employed by enterprises in Vietnam.
• Foreign investors or representatives of capital contribution in Vietnamese companies.
• Spouses, children, parents, or eligible family members of foreigners or Vietnamese citizens.
• Foreigners studying, training, or joining education programs in Vietnam.
• Foreigners working with agencies, organizations, representative offices, or eligible sponsoring entities.

For enterprises, obtaining temporary residence cards for foreign experts helps stabilize personnel plans, reduce repeated short-term visa extensions, and manage residence records more consistently.

Types of Temporary Residence Cards for Foreigners in Vietnam

Depending on the residence purpose, initial visa type, and supporting documents, foreigners may be considered for different types of temporary residence cards.

Identifying the correct temporary residence card category from the beginning is important. Each application type requires different supporting documents, such as a work permit, work permit exemption certificate, investment registration certificate, marriage certificate, birth certificate, study documents, or suitable sponsorship records.

Conditions for Applying for a Temporary Residence Card

Foreigners applying for a temporary residence card in Vietnam generally need to meet basic conditions relating to passport validity, residence status, residence purpose, and sponsorship documents.

Common conditions to review include:

The validity of the temporary residence card must be consistent with the passport validity and relevant supporting documents. Therefore, before submission, the foreigner should carefully check the validity of the passport, visa, work permit, investment certificate, or sponsorship documents to avoid receiving a card with a shorter validity than expected.

Documents Required for a Temporary Residence Card Application

The required documents for a temporary residence card application vary depending on the application category. However, a basic document set usually includes the following groups:

Certain documents issued overseas may need to be translated, notarized, certified, or consular legalized before being used in Vietnam. This is a common source of errors, especially in applications involving investors, family members, experts, or foreign employees.

Temporary Residence Card Application Procedure

The temporary residence card application procedure for foreigners usually includes the following key steps:

• Step 1: Eligibility check. Identify whether the foreigner falls under the category of labor, investment, family visit, study, organization-sponsored work, or another sponsorship category.
• Step 2: Document preparation. Complete personal documents, sponsorship documents, documents proving residence purpose, and temporary residence declaration information.
• Step 3: Submission to the competent authority. The application may be submitted to the competent immigration authority or through the public service portal if the case meets the applicable online submission requirements.
• Step 4: Appointment receipt and result monitoring. After the valid application is received, the competent authority reviews and processes the case according to regulations.
• Step 5: Temporary residence card collection. Upon receiving the card, the foreigner should carefully check the information on the card, including full name, date of birth, nationality, passport number, card code, validity period, and sponsoring entity.

Lotus Air’s Temporary Residence Card Service Process

Lotus Air supports temporary residence card applications through a clear process suitable for both individuals and enterprises sponsoring foreigners.

• Step 1: Initial information collection. Lotus Air records nationality, current visa type, residence purpose, desired validity period, sponsoring party, passport status, and available supporting documents.
• Step 2: Suitable card category assessment. The consulting team checks whether the application should be processed under the labor, investment, family visit, study, organization-sponsored, or another category.
• Step 3: Eligibility review and risk warning. Lotus Air reviews the passport, visa, work permit, work permit exemption certificate, company documents, family relationship documents, or documents proving the residence purpose.
• Step 4: Document completion guidance. Customers receive guidance on forms, photos, copies, translations, confirmations, or additional documents where needed.
• Step 5: Submission support and progress monitoring. Lotus Air accompanies the application process, supports status updates, and provides guidance if additional information is required.
• Step 6: Result handover and post-issuance consultation. After the temporary residence card is issued, Lotus Air helps check the information on the card and advises on validity, entry and exit use, renewal, or future information changes.

Temporary Residence Card Service Fees

Temporary residence card service fees depend on the application category, nationality, residence purpose, current visa status, supporting documents, sponsoring party, and processing needs of each case.

Common cost items may include:

At Lotus Air, service fees are advised after reviewing key information such as visa type, residence purpose, desired validity period, supporting documents, sponsoring party, and actual application status. This approach helps customers understand what to prepare, what cost items may apply, and which solution is most suitable.

Validity of Temporary Residence Cards for Foreigners

The validity of a temporary residence card depends on the card type, passport validity, documents proving the residence purpose, and sponsorship conditions of each case. A temporary residence card cannot be issued beyond the validity of the underlying legal basis and must align with the foreigner’s actual residence status.

Before submission, foreigners should carefully check passport validity. If the passport is close to expiry, the temporary residence card may be issued for a shorter period than expected. For foreign employees, companies should also review the validity of the work permit, employment contract, and sponsorship documents.

Lotus Air supports customers in reviewing the validity of relevant documents before recommending the application plan, helping reduce the risk of receiving a card with an unsuitable validity period or needing to handle another procedure shortly afterward.

Renewal or Reapplication When a Temporary Residence Card Is Near Expiry

When a temporary residence card is near expiry, the foreigner should review residence eligibility, passport validity, sponsorship documents, and documents proving the residence purpose to prepare the application in time.

In practice, many cases are not “renewed” directly on the old card. Instead, a new temporary residence card application may be required if the foreigner still meets the conditions. Therefore, customers should prepare early, especially if there are changes in passport, sponsoring company, job position, marital status, residence purpose, or supporting documents.

Lotus Air recommends reviewing the application around 30-45 days before the card expires to allow enough time for supplementation, translation, legalization, or information updates if needed.

Advantages of Using Lotus Air’s Temporary Residence Card Service

Lotus Air’s temporary residence card service is suitable for foreigners and companies that need a clear consulting point, careful document review, and the ability to connect related international mobility needs.

Key advantages include:

• Correct card category consultation: identifying whether the application should be processed under labor, investment, family visit, study, or another sponsorship category.
• Eligibility review before submission: checking passport, visa, work permit, sponsorship documents, and supporting records.
• Reduced document errors: guiding forms, documents, translations, photos, and additional records where required.
• Suitable for companies with foreign personnel: supporting enterprises in managing residence records for experts, managers, technical workers, or long-term partners.
• Connection with visas and work permits: advising on the legal pathway before and after the temporary residence card is issued.
• Integration with air ticketing, Fast Track, and entry support: assisting customers throughout the journey of travel, entry, and stay in Vietnam.

At Lotus Air, the temporary residence card service is not treated as an isolated procedure. It is part of a broader support solution for foreigners coming to Vietnam to work, reside, and travel internationally with greater convenience.

Frequently Asked Questions About Temporary Residence Cards for Foreigners

Do foreigners with a temporary residence card need a visa?

In general, foreigners holding a valid temporary residence card do not need to apply for a new visa for each entry into Vietnam because the temporary residence card has the same value as a visa. However, they should still check the card validity, passport number, entry-exit conditions, and any changes relating to the sponsoring party.

How long does it take to obtain a temporary residence card?

The processing time for a temporary residence card depends on the application status, card category, receiving authority, and whether the documents are complete and valid. If documents are missing, require translation, need a work permit supplement, or require updates to the sponsoring entity’s information, the overall preparation time may be longer.

How long is a temporary residence card valid?

The validity of a temporary residence card depends on the card type, passport validity, sponsorship documents, and the foreigner’s residence conditions. When advising on the application, Lotus Air reviews the passport, visa, work permit, investment certificate, or family relationship documents to recommend a suitable plan.

How many times can a temporary residence card be renewed?

A temporary residence card is not always extended directly on the old card. When the card is near expiry, the foreigner usually needs to apply for a new card if they still meet the lawful residence conditions, have a suitable sponsoring party, and their documents do not have unresolved issues.

How early should foreigners prepare a new temporary residence card application?

Foreigners should start reviewing the application around 30-45 days before the temporary residence card expires to allow time for document preparation, supplementation, and avoiding overstay risks. For labor, corporate, or investment cases, earlier preparation is recommended if the work permit, passport, or sponsorship documents are also close to expiry.

Can a DN visa holder apply for a temporary residence card?

A DN visa may serve as an initial basis for a foreigner to work, conduct business, or work with an enterprise in Vietnam. However, not every DN visa holder is automatically eligible for a temporary residence card. The foreigner must have documents proving eligibility under a suitable category, such as a work permit, work permit exemption certificate, investment documents, or valid sponsorship basis.

Lotus Air reviews each case to advise which temporary residence card category is suitable, what documents should be supplemented, and whether any adjustment to the visa or residence pathway is required.

Temporary Residence Card Service by Lotus Air

Lotus Air’s temporary residence card service supports foreigners and sponsoring enterprises in handling applications clearly, under the correct category, and in line with each residence purpose in Vietnam.

Beyond temporary residence card procedures, Lotus Air can also assist customers with related needs such as visas, work permits, air tickets, Fast Track services, and entry support. This solution is suitable for experts, foreign employees, investors, family members, and enterprises managing residence records for international personnel.

Need to check eligibility, required documents, or the right application plan for a foreigner in Vietnam? Contact Lotus Air for suitable consultation.

• Hotline: 1900 6654
• Email: info@lotusair.vn